The Chinese government is resolutely opposed to the nuclear test
by North Korea, Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement
Monday.
According to a report by the official Korean Central News Agency
(KCNA), North Korea conducted a successful underground nuclear test
on Monday.
"North Korea ignored universal opposition of the international
community and flagrantly conducted the nuclear test on Oct. 9. The
Chinese government is resolutely opposed to it," the statement
said.
It said China strongly demands North Korea live up to its
commitment to non-nuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, stop any
activity that may worsen the situation and return to the six-party
talks.
It has been the firm, unshakable and consistent stance of the
Chinese government to achieve non-nuclearization on the Korean
Peninsula and oppose the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the
statement said.
The Chinese government called for calm from all parties
concerned and urged them to stick to a peaceful resolution through
consultation and dialogue, the statement said.
It said that maintaining peace and stability in the Northeast
Asia region conforms to the common interests of all parties
concerned and China will continue to make unremitting efforts to
this end.
Chinese Foreign Minister?Li Zhaoxing?talked via telephone with US
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Monday afternoon, exchanging
views on the latest development of the situation on the Korean
Peninsula, during which Li reiterated China's solemn position on
the issue as announced in the Foreign Ministry's statement.
The nuclear test, the first conducted by North Korea, came about
a week after the country announced it would undertake an
unprecedented atomic test to guarantee its own safety.
KCNA reported that there was no such danger as radioactive emission
in the test as it was carried out under a scientific consideration
and with careful calculation.
In a statement issued last Tuesday, North Korean Foreign
Ministry said the country "will never use nuclear weapons
first."
The test drew immediate condemnation from the international
community.
The United Nations Security Council is to hold an emergency
meeting in a closed session Monday to discuss the issue.
A spokesman of South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun said Monday
that South Korea would respond sternly to North Korea's nuclear
test.
It is reported that Japan and the United States are preparing to
submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council if North
Korea's nuclear test is confirmed. This would match Japan's
statement last Friday, stating it would seek a Security Council
resolution on sanctions against North Korea if it carried out a
nuclear test.
(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2006)